RESULTS OF THE 14TH INTERNATIONAL MINING AND METALLURGY CONGRESS - ASTANA MINING & METALLURGY - AMM 2024

Written on 18 June 2024.

ON JUNE 6-7, 2024, THE 14TH INTERNATIONAL MINING AND METALLURGY CONGRESS - ASTANA MINING & METALLURGY - AMM 2024 WAS HELD AT THE HILTON ASTANA HOTEL (ASTANA, KAZAKHSTAN), WHICH WAS ATTENDED BY 2,044 INDUSTRY LEADERS.

The main theme of this year’s Congress is “The Era of Metals - Challenges and Solutions”; this choice of leitmotif for the event emphasizes the prospects of Kazakhstan in the extraction and processing of rare earth metals, which have turned into “new oil” and the most important sector of the country’s economy. In just two days of the Congress, a Plenary session, 3 key Forums, 18 specialized sessions and 291 b2b, b2g meetings were held. Exhibitors at the AMM exhibition were 41 companies from 12 countries, such as Germany, Kazakhstan, China, Cyprus, Poland, Russia, USA, Turkey, Finland, France, Japan. The expanded exhibition area of ​​more than 350 sq.m. featured a wide range of products and services, including advanced technological solutions and equipment for the mining and metallurgical industry. At their stands, exhibitors presented advanced technologies and equipment, chemical products for the mining and metallurgical industry, solutions for industrial and environmental safety, geological research, engineering services and innovative developments. Among the participants are key players in various fields offering relevant and in-demand solutions for industry. For the first time at the exhibition, the following companies presented their products: AV Group, Alef Trade, Geobrugg, Derrick Corporation, Eurasia TechMachinery, Labvea, Magotteaux S.A., Miakom Spb, Mount Sopris, Netcad Yazilim A.Ş, Novomek, Satbayev University, Warter Polymers Ltd., Feluwa Pumpen Gmbh and Cable Alliance Holding.

K. Sharlapayev, the Minister of Industry and Construction of the Republic of Kazakhstan took part in the Plenary meeting and an introductory tour of the exhibition. The Minister noted the focus of the companies represented at the exhibition on ESG principles: environmental, social and corporate governance. Many of them have provided and continue to provide enormous support to the flood-affected regions. “The mining and metallurgy industry accounts for 10% of the country’s GDP, producing products worth 12 trillion KZT. MMC companies provide jobs for about 195 thousand people, and this is almost a third (31%) of the number of industrial workers. Kazakhstan is a sustainable supplier of critical raw materials in the global production chain. At the official level, a partnership has been established with consumer countries from the EU, Great Britain, USA, France and Korea. I would like to proudly declare that these productions are based on domestic competencies! Our goal is to ensure the production of all types of precursors for lithium-ion batteries”, the Minister noted in his speech.

Also speaking at the Plenary Session were Benjamin Gallezot, the Interdepartmental Delegate for Strategic Supply of Ore and Metals, Office of the Prime Minister of France, Garth Kirkham, CRIRSCO President; Serik Shakhazhanov, General Director of Eurasian Group LLP; Zhanibek Baigabelov, General Director of Kazakhmys Smelting LLP; Tina Armstrong, Global Managing Director of Hatch.

The key moments of AMM 2024 were the following events:

• Sharlapayev held a number of bilateral meetings with delegate participants from other countries, including Peter Buchholz, the head of the German Mineral Resources Agency (DERA); Henrik Hololey, Chief Advisor to the General Director of the European Commission, with the participation of Bernd Schaefer, the head of the European Raw Materials Alliance (ERMA) and the Director General of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT Raw Materials); Garth Kirkham, Chairman of CRIRSCO, Director of the Canadian Institute of Mining (CIM); Tina Armstrong, Global Managing Director of Hatch; representatives of JOGMEC and the founders of Taza MetalTechnologies.
• Also, in order to develop international cooperation, K. Sharlapayev met with the heads of the British companies - BGS and CERCAMS, and with Abdullah Al-Shamrani, the Chief Executive Director of the Geological Survey of Saudi Arabia.
• ERG signed ten offtake contracts with seven domestic producers worth more than 20 billion KZT.
• Presentation of the 15 best technology startups as part of Demo Day, organized jointly with Park of Innovative Technologies Autonomous Cluster Fund.
• Signing of a memorandum on the accession of the National Center for Technological Forecasting to ERMA between Al-Farabi Ydyryshev, National Coordinator of the Republic of Kazakhstan on critical raw minerals, and Bernd Schaefer, General Director of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (Germany).

The Congress program also included the Strategic session “Critical raw minerals - strategic assets: research on the minerals of the future”, Strategic session “Rules of mining in Kazakhstan: how the rules of the game are changing”, business forum “Partnership between Kazakhstan and the European Union in the field of critical minerals”, Panel session “Beneficiation and processing - digitalization of beneficiating plants”, press breakfast, case session: Presentations of Canadian and Kazakhstani developments for mining and metallurgical complex; session “ESG and sustainable development strategies”; expert presentation “Diagnostics of the mining sector from the World Bank: implementation of reforms for sustainable benefits”, V Coal Forum, V Forum of Gold Miners of Kazakhstan, PR training and GR meet-up.

Traditionally, during the AMM days, the annual Golden Hephaestus industry competition was held, where, by decision of a competent independent jury, the best representatives in the mining and metallurgical sector were awarded for their professional merits. The competition was held in 15 nominations. In total, in 2024, the jury reviewed 215 applications for participation.

The event was organized by ITECA Kazakhstan Exhibition Company and its international partner - ICA Events Group of Companies.

State partner: Ministry of Industry and Construction of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Gold Partners: Eurasian Resources Group (ERG), KAZ Minerals, Kazakhmys, Polymetal, ACF PIT. Silver Partner: Kazzinc. Bronze Partners: Hatch, Linde Gas Kazakhstan, Metso, SGS Kazakhstan.

Official support: Akimat of Astana city, Republican Association of Mining and Metallurgical Enterprises, Republican Association of Precious Metals Producers, Atameken National Chamber of Entrepreneurs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Visit Astana.